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Saltley & Alum Rock

Hi All,

Great forum, very nice old photos of Saltley,

I was in saltley not long ago buying some fabrics, in a place called www.fabricuk.com it was quite difficult trying to get into the car park, due to all the new road layout of Saltley High Street & Saltley Road, I got talking to the owner he showed me pictures of what his place looked like in 1955. here it is Then and now.

1955

fabricuk.jpg

2005 (Before a fire in 2007 which destroyed the whole fabric warehouse)
warehousepic.jpg

Current to date
KBTBuildibng600x400px.jpg

I see there is some editing in the pictures, there is and old derelict Flour mill behind this building, it is still standing I have a picture of that which i can upload if anyone wants to see it.
 
Herman,

Welcome to the Forum and many thanks for posting those pictures. Yes, please post any pictures that you have of old buildings, preferably with a date if known. This helps some of our very knowledgeable members when researching places and people, which they willingly do and free of charge.

Maurice
 
Hi Hermanw

You don't really realise just how much it has changed, it is hardly recognisable and if it wasn't for the old brewery building in the background and the location of Saltley Viaduct then it would be much harder.

Nechells Place.jpg
 
Looking at the lower photos, two things catch my eye. One, the gas holder and existing building at the time, have gone and presumably the crowd, watching the lorry, are protesters during the miners strike in the era of the notorious three day week.
The present date photo shows the ubiquitous tin shed structures. Nowhere seems immune to them.
 
Top right shows the road layout with the bus at the junction, as it was back in the days, this was part of the main route of the no8 bus, the junction and road layout has now been replaced by a large roundabout and the heartlands spine road, which explains why I had to drive around the block to find the entrance into the fabric warehouse car park, the former Mobil petrol station and car workshop,
 
Hello all,
I'm looking for a photo of the junction of Washwood Heath Road & Leigh Road before the petrol station was there, so before 1970 ish?

Thanks in anticipation!!
Macca
 
Old Mill, on Cato Street North, still standing derelict. its even got a roof top garden,,
20181114_100825.jpg
View from Inside J H Richards

20181113_132335.jpg
This is a view from Cato Street North,

This Cato Street North was quite popular apparently, it was all residential housing but now there is not one single house all commercial / industrial premises
 
Rob Scott said:
Cracking photo Mike, exactly as I remember "The Gate" area in Saltley in the late 60's and early 70's. Do you remember the newspaper seller who stood near the corner outside the Tilt Hammer pub ?
I grew up in the late 60's in Ludlow Road, Alum Rock....mom and dad had the newsagents shop on the corner of Alderson Road. Went to Shaw Hill School and we used to walk down Alum Rock Road first thing every Monday to George Arthur swimming baths. Happy days !
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I was friends with the licencees Daughter daughter Glenys Cope we both went to open air school in 62/63. I went to her birthday party. in 63.
 
Chrisange51 said:
I was friends with the licencees Daughter daughter Glenys Cope we both went to open air school in 62/63. I went to her birthday party. in 63.
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me and my family also moved to Bordesley Green 1963 when I was 11.I later 66 to69 worked at different businesses down the Rock starting with sat work at Smiths shoe shop. went to work in offices braggs Bakers
and a company down by Saltley Gate and Bridge Brock Metal in offices.
.
 
When I was sixteen, I used to work in a TV shop in Saltley, just down from the traffic lights at the Gate. It was run by a man called Graham. In the window he had a camera, AND a mic and we would sit in the workshop upstairs, and listen to the comments from the people looking in the window at the tellies and radios. They would stand back in surprise, when we would talk to them! This was in 1957/8. Does anyone remember the TV shop?
 
Phil said:
Hi Gerry

Was it this shop "Civic", possibly a little later than this image?

View attachment 131262
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mom bought a small radio from civic radio.when she got it home it did not work, she took it back,and the snotty sales woman "set it worked before it left here" she would not change it or refund.her.. the shop by the gate was full of gimmicks
 
Phil said:
There was a TV shop next to the Gate called Saltley TV Co Ltd the number of the shop was number 34 there was also Lerner Brothers over the road at number 37. You can just see the edge of the shop on this photo of the Gate.

View attachment 131263
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Hi, and thank you. This looks so much like the shop I remember. I am still looking to see if I can find anything else that will give me a memory jog about the old shop. But, I think this was it. Thank you. Gerry
 
Hi everyone, have just seen Phil's photo of the civic radio shop on Alum Rock Saltley I was born in Reginald road in1952 and went to St Saviours could anyone tell me the name of the road to the shops right I remember the outdoor on the corner could this be Reginald road and Fullbrooks sweet shop facing next to a flower shop and on the same side was McGalleys not sure of spelling but it sold toys on one side of the shop got my airfix kits here and sold bikes and spare parts the other side would love to find out more of the shops on the Rock and if anyone has photos of St Saviours school 1950 -1970 era would appreciate any information please many thanks BLUEBOY
 
Cheer's Gerry hope someone has some information, spent 5 years in Reginald road before moving up the Rock to Wright road till1973 got married moved to Erdington and the Vale before moving to Devon in 1978 still miss the place that's why I am scouring the posts for anything that brings back memories BLUEBOY
 
Phil said:
Hi Gerry

Was it this shop "Civic", possibly a little later than this image?

View attachment 131262
Click to expand...
times i had to walk to the shop on the end. valspar for a tin of paint. happy times.
i would look in all the shops,and get back to work late, the boss would say were you bin:innocent:. i would say the shop was full i had to wait. i bet he thought "you little liar tommy"
 
The man that ran the Electrical and TV and Radio shop, by The Gate, was called: GRAHAM MAYNARD. Does that ring any bells...?
 
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